There is a great difference between CHURCHIANITY and
CHRISTIANITY. Many are GOING TO CHURCH but few are GOING
DOWN THE ROAD WHICH LEADS TO LIFE (Matthew 7:13-14). Many name the Name of Christ
(2 Tim. 2:19) and claim to be Christians but few understand what a Christian
really is. Many are RELIGIOUS but few are RIGHT WITH GOD. May
God help us to understand the difference between RELIGION and true CHRISTIANITY
as set forth in the Word of God, the Holy Bible.

The following chart may be helpful:

RELIGION

CHRISTIANITY

"Salvation is something I must do. I
must somehow earn or gain salvation by the way I live."

"Salvation is something only God
can do. Salvation is of the LORD!" (Eph. 2:8-9; Jonah 2:9).

Religion is summed up in one word: DO--man
trying to DO different things to please God and earn His favor.

Christianity is summed up in one word: DONE--Christ
dying on the cross to save sinful man (John 19:30).

The religious man is busy "working"
(doing good works) in order to be saved.

The saved person is "not working"
(Rom. 4:5) but is RESTING upon the finished work of Another.

TRYING

TRUSTING (Acts 16:31)

A Work to Do which is never done (How
can anyone work well enough and hard enough to earn salvation?)

A Word to Believe (1 Pet. 1:25) about
a Work that is Done (1 Pet. 1:18-19).

CHRISTIANITY is Christ BRINGING US
TO GOD on the basis of what He did for us on the cross (1 Peter 3:18).

Religion is man trusting his own good works
(Titus 3:5).

Salvation is man trusting the good work which
the Lord Jesus did on the cross (Rom. 3:22-26).

A religious ritual

A real relationship (John 17:3)

Following rules

Enjoying life (John 6:47; 10:10).

"I must reform my life and turn over
a new leaf"

"I must be born again" (John 3:7).

Doing Something

Knowing Someone (John 17:3)

Man trying to please God in the wrong way
(Rom. 8:8--"So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God").

Man truly pleasing God in the only way (Hebrews
11:6--"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he
that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder
of them that diligently seek him").

Seeking to earn God's favor by works

Receiving God's favor by grace through faith
(Eph. 2:8 and see Eph. 1:6).

"I can work my way to heaven and earn
my salvation" (Romans 6:23 teaches that we have earned our way
to hell: "the wages of sin is death")

"I could never live well enough to earn
my way to heaven. Christ had to pay the price for my salvation (1 Cor.
6:20; 1 Pet. 1:18-19).

"I have kept the law! I have done that
which God has required" (Matthew 19:16-20).

"I have broken the law but I am trusting
the One who came into this world to save guilty lawbreakers" (1
Tim. 1:15).

A religious man trying to earn his way to
heaven by works may be likened to a man trying to swim from New York
to London by his own efforts and energy and strength. He will never
make it!

The person who is saved by faith is likened
to a man getting on a ship in New York and trusting that ship to bring
him safely to London. This man simply rests upon the ship and lets the
ship do all the work.

The religious man is seeking to establish
his own righteousness (Rom. 10:3).

The saved man is satisfied with the perfect
righteousness of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:21).

Religion is pictured in Genesis 3 by the
fig leaves that Adam and Eve made for themselves--a terrible
covering (Gen. 3:7 and see Isaiah 64:6).

Salvation is pictured in Genesis 3 by the
coats of skin which God provided by way of the shedding of blood--a
perfect covering (Gen. 3:21; Rev. 19:8).

CAIN'S RELIGION--"I bring to God the
labour of my own hands" (Gen. 4:3).